Nate Diaz scores unanimous decision victory vs. Anthony Pettis in return at UFC 241

Nate Diaz drew ex-champ Anthony Pettis into a grueling, in-close fight that favored him in deep waters.

Pettis managed to survive to the final bell, but Diaz’s offensive output was too much to overcome when the fight went to the scorecards.

The welterweight bout was the UFC 241 co-main event at Honda Center in Anaheim, California, and aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.

The final tally was 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 for Diaz, who fought for the first time since a decision loss to Conor McGregor in 2016.

“It’s Nick Diaz army, (expletive),” Diaz said to the cheers of the crowd after his victory.

Diaz explained his long layoff with a diss of his UFC colleagues. But he had praise for one fighter, who just happened to be cageside: Jorge Masvidal.

“The reason I was off is because everybody sucked, and there was nobody to fight,” Diaz said. “With this belt, I want to defend it against … Jorge Masvidal had a good last fight.

“All respect to the man, but there ain’t no gangsters in this game anymore. There ain’t nobody who’s done it right but me and him. I know my man’s a gangster, but he ain’t no West Coast gangster.”

“I want to defend my title against Jorge. He’s a gangster, but he ain’t no West Coast gangster.”@NateDiaz209, welcome back! #UFC241pic.twitter.com/Y5DdHcnwzO

— UFC (@ufc) August 18, 2019

Diaz’s performance against former lightweight champ Pettis definitely fit that bill. He immediately walked down Pettis (22-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) and kept the pressure high. Pettis greeted him with a counter right that found its mark. Diaz (19-11 MMA, 14-9 UFC) traded in close before pushing into the clinch, hoping to wear down Pettis.

Diaz racked up more points with a takedown and ground-and-pound. When Pettis tried to escape, Diaz took his back and closed the round in back control.

Diaz quickly pushed for a takedown in the second, and Pettis got to work on the counter. Diaz ate a hard right hand early and seemed to stall as he checked his left eye. Pettis gambled on a Kimura hold and allowed Diaz to take top position. When he returned to his feet, a knee to the head was waiting.

Moving back to the clinch, Diaz landed several elbows and began to turn up the tempo. Pettis began to fade against the cage as he traded short, hard shots with Diaz.

Diaz is teeing off on Pettis as round 2 comes to a close!#UFC241pic.twitter.com/oB6cmHTcl7

— UFC (@ufc) August 18, 2019

Pettis tried to keep Diaz away in the final frame, firing combos of punches as attacks continued to push him backward. Diaz mixed in power shots and landed knees that sent Pettis to the canvas. Diaz took the back and angled for the choke.

But in an impressive reversal, Pettis managed to spin out of back control and into guard. He might have stayed there had Diaz not baited him into guard, and eventually Diaz found the reversal that but him back in position for a submission.

Pettis slaps the guillotine on, but Diaz escapes! #UFC241pic.twitter.com/5KxhKggYPe

— UFC (@ufc) August 18, 2019

Pettis reversed again and survived to the final bell. There was no question, however, who had won the day.

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